SUNSET: 
April 2020: Planets Aplenty
This month's Sky Tour astronomy podcast highlights how Venus flirts with the Pleiades star cluster after sunset, then leads you to views of Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars together in the predawn sky.
The Pleiades Welcome Venus
You can renew your own cosmic connection on Friday night, April 3rd. That's when the planet Venus will skirt the Pleiades star cluster in a spectacular dusk conjunction visible across much of the planet.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, March 27 – April 4
Venus and the waxing crescent Moon shine in the west during and after twilight. As night deepens, you'll find the Pleiades a little above Venus.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, March 20 – 28
Venus is the big, bright "Evening Star" high in the west at dusk. Jupiter, Mars and Saturn are low in the southeast in early dawn.
A Bino Tour of the Big Dog
For observers looking for a quick outing with binoculars, Canis Major offers a set of lovely attractions that includes a trio of open clusters.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, March 13 – 21
Venus continues to shine high in the west at nightfall for many weeks on end. But as the season advances, its starry background slides toward the lower right behind it. For instance not long ago the Pleiades were very high above it, but as of this evening they're 20° apart.
Easy-to-find Deep-sky Objects for Cold Nights
Cold weather keeping you inside at night? Limit your time outdoors and make the most of your telescope time with these easy-to-find deep-sky gems.
This Week's Sky at a Glance, March 6 – 14
This week, see Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn lined up diagonally low in the southeast as dawn begins.
Winter Stargazing in the Florida Keys
Every February, amateur astronomers flock to the Florida Keys to a dark-sky site for a week of stargazing at the Winter Star Party.
Diving Into the Moon's Bay of Rainbows
This curious lunar feature — visible the nights of March 4th and April 2nd — is a delight in small scopes or even binoculars.
Earth Has A Mini-Moon — But Not for Long!
Two astronomers discovered a temporary mini-moon captured by Earth — but it's about to win its freedom.
March 2020: A Planet Trio and More!
During March, the cosmos offers a lot to see both before sunrise and after sunset. To get a guided tour of the month's highlights, play or download this month's Sky Tour episode.
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, February 28 – March 7
Venus shines near the Moon and Betelgeuse is brightening again — find other night sky sights in this week's roundup.
Meet the Pleiades, the Seven Sisters
The Pleiades are actually a star cluster of thousands of stars enshrouded in dust and gas, and they're easy to find if you know where to look.
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, February 21 – 29
Venus is the big bright "Evening Star" shining in the west during and after dusk. To its right or lower right as the stars come out is the Great Square of Pegasus, sinking down on one corner.
Explore the Winter Hexagon
This expansive region is home to plenty of bright stars and deep-sky wonders.
Is Betelgeuse Approaching a Crossroads?
Astronomers all over are waiting with bated breath to see what Betelgeuse will do next. Is it going to start brightening again on February 21st? Or will it continue to surprise?
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, February 14 – 22
By 8 or 9 p.m. the Big Dipper stands on its handle in the northeast. In the northwest, Cassiopeia stands on end at about the same height.
Watch the Moon Occult Mars Before Sunrise on February 18th
Occultations of stars by the Moon occur routinely, but planetary lunar occultations are much rarer birds. That's why I hope you'll make the effort Tuesday morning February 18th to watch the waning crescent Moon occult the planet Mars.
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, February 7 – 15
Venus is the bright "star" shining in the southwest during and after twilight. Fainter Mercury is far down to its lower left as twilight fades.
